Self-adapting connector



y F. VON VOIGTLANDER 2,

SELF-ADAFTING CONNECTOR Filed Feb 7, 1946 w (vice;

Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED srAres PATENT OFFICE ship, Jackson County, Mioh., assignor, by mesne assignments, to sperti, Faraday Inc., a, corpora- Application February '1, 1946, Serial No. 646,095

L1Claini.. (o1. ire- 321' This invention relates x130 electrical terminal connectors Witnrange for automatic adaptation to widely diverse types for efficient circuit closing cooperation, n

s This invention has utility when incorporatedin plural socket types of connectors or attachment devices, more particularly, withthe sockets relatively shiftable to vary the spacing therebetween. Additional alignment orregister compensationiis cared for in that the socket terminal properhas a float latitude for some lateral movement, even angularly. i I

Referring to the drawings: v 1

Figil is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of an embodiment of the invention in a two-prong receiver electric terminal comieetion device, with one of the four parts of the unit removed;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II--II, Fig. 1, look-- ing in the direction ofthearrom'of one of the complementary half-seat portions for a socket terminal and lead way thereto;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on a still further enlarged scale, of the spring leaf hinge to provide a rocking joint in assembling the relatively movable sockets of a pair in this electric terminal der Fig. 4 is, a plan view of the unit ofl Fig. 5 1, in

fully spread or divergent position for the sockets,

as contrasting with the converse or reducedspacing position of Fig. 1; if;

Fig. 5 is an end detail, with parts broken away, of the entrance throat for 9, prong of one of the socket parts, with socket terminal flare ends in position therewith;

Fig. 6 is a lead-in end elevation of an insulated complementary section entrance quarter; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the strain relief clip, adapted in the assembly in Fig. 1 to act upon the lead-in conductors close to the region of minimum movement as to the insulator housing of the four part unit.

The housing The insulation housing unit is herein shown as comprised of four parts or sections I, 2, assembled in pairs, being complementary rights and lefts.

Supply lines to terminals Electric current supply lines 3, 4, each have insulation 5 which is in a flexible conduit or insulation covering 6 passing thru a laterally yieldable helical wire sleeve 1 with an inner end larger diameter single wrap 8. As protruding therefrom, the covering 6 is removed and the two insulation portions 5 are separated to have the supply conductor wires 3, ,4, stripped terminally thereof. This is such that stranded wire 3 may be Wrappedabout a screw 8' thru a return bend 9 tapped for the screw in thus assembling a socket terminal of opposing complementary relatively yieldable arms or sections it having semi-circular flare throat entrance portions [2 with enlarged tapering channels back therefrom asgroov'e ways 53 to a restriction region Mat the merging ofithe arms H with the spring return bend 9. r

Assembly of t he terminals The respective insulation sections 1, 2, have at the free or connection-cheating end, ,arcseat portions l5. These preferably are slightly lessthan .in their are extent of approximately the radius of curvature of the outer flare l2 .of the socket terminal to, be located justl back of the portion I 5, ata clearance orseat region l 6 ,-This clearance I6 is sufiicient for=sideplayor float range of shifting for the flare l2.1 A slightly more shallow seat l1 extends back therefrom to a slight rim ill in the region of the terminal restriction I4. The seat ll is of ample dimension for the armsl l and theirarch sides 13,170 not bind in response to *fiares 12 having wide varietyof different types of prongs thrust thereinto. i x a 'Backof-the rim i8 is asomewhat deeper seat portion l9 with acentral well 20. Herein maybe located the base return bend 9 with itsscrew 8 as the line connection of the socket terminal connector. The depth of this seat I9 is such as to permit considerable up and down movement for the return bend 9, While the transverse dimension allows fully non-binding response to any prong shape or distortion which may enter the flare throat l2 at the seat I5. The well 20 precludes any holding of the return bend 9 due to the projection therefrom of the screw 8'.

The insulation covering 5 reposes in a way 2| with an angle portion 22 for register with are quarter ribs 23, 24. Between the ribs 23, 24, is quarter groove 25 to receive the enlarged diameter final wire wrap 8. The four quarters thus complete envelopment of this wire flex protector 1.

Strain relief clip- Before the four parts are assembled, and at the juncture of the insulation coverings 5 as spread from the enveloping insulation 6, and there wrapped with asbestos paper l0, are shaped cheeks 26 form a clasp or wrap about the so wrapped portion 6, with a tongue 21 therefrom to a crossbar portion 28 (Fig. VII). The fractional sleeve formed by the portions 26 is located to project thru the wrap 8 of the wire into the windings 1, with the tongue .21 directed inward from end 29 of the assembly I, 2. This brings the bar portion 28 in the angle portion 22. Any outpull upon the electric supply lines 3, l, is transmitted from the grip cheeks 26 to the bar 28 riding against the rib 23. i I a I The hinge spring leaf Spaced inward from the way portion 22 is a \I"-= channel 30 having one straight wall toward the end 29 and the slightly spreading wall toward the pair of terminals, a housing providing a pair of insulation end having the seat lfil' Towardtheway 2| and short thereof, the channel seat 30 ends in a cylindrical seat or socket 3|; Y

A spring is provided of strip sheet stock with ends 32 toward each other inacommonplanefrom end loops 33 having a connecting web 34 therebetween lying against the leaf ends 32tobe' re-inforced thereby.

p Assemblyv of the unit In. the molding of plastic stock intolthe insula- 'tion. elements I, 2, the seat or recess portions require mold draft configuration for cor withdrawal. It is essential that an assembly element, especially one combining therewith hinge or. flex properties; be positively anchored with the elements with which it is to be associated. By configuring the leaf hinge embracingportion 301 to pinch at its bottom, there ispositive preclusion of lost motion Wobble, while the cylindrical sockets" l3 for the respective loops/33 as half length in each of the opposing sections I, 2, as complementary, provide efiicient and'positive end holding means for the spring leaf Web 34 asbridging the way across a wide angle juncture 35 between straight portions 36 from the socket throat receiving ends and the portions 31 to the ends 29. The extent of divergence possible for flexing of the spring leaf 34 is determined for closeness as the faces 36 abut (Fig. l), and for divergence; as the faces 31 abut (Fig. 4). Bolt openings 33 are now in alignment to receive-bolts 39. As these nut engaging bolts 39draw. the respective element pairs 2,-together, the leaf portion 34- of. the spring is snugly seated.

The user may grasp roughened or ribbed portiorr 40 to efiect a registering spreadbetweenwthe socket throat seat portions l5, for thrusting the chambers for the terminals, said housing including. a first pair of sections each having an open side half' chamber, there being seat wa means in registry between said sections at a straight way intermediate portion, each section having a cylindricalway portion to which the straight portionextendsa leaf spring having a fiat intermediate portion in the straight way portion and an end loop in each cylindrical way portion thereby"to-'hold the two sections assembled with the spring protruding thruout its extent from the way portions, a second pair of housing sections complementary to said first pair with wa means tocomplete enclosure of the protruding portion of the spring and with half chamber portions to register with and complete the chambers in the housing for the terminals, and assembly means in additionto the spring coacting between the first and second pair of housing sectionsto anchor. the spring in the thus completed connector,

.whereby the two sections completing one chambermay swing on the spring as a hinge in movement relatively to the two sections completing the other chamber; there being conductor lead means into the housing to the terminals, said lead. means entering the housing more remote from the-chambers than the spring.

FREDERICK VON VOIGTLANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

